Ammon News - In the world of gastronomy, there are ingredients that are synonymous with luxury and exclusivity. What if we told you that there is something growing underground that could sell for thousands of dollars per kilo? Would you believe it? Does it sound familiar? We are talking about the black truffle or “the diamond of cooking”, one of the most coveted ingredients in haute cuisine. Known for its unique flavour, it has become one of the most luxurious ingredients we know of, and Argentina is becoming the most important producer of this food.

What is the black truffle?
Its scientific name is tuber melanosporum, and it does not grow on the surface like other mushrooms, but underground (along with some trees). Its growth can take between 6 and 10 years and they are found with dogs specially trained for them. If you wonder why this product is so expensive, think that it is very difficult to grow because its growth requires specific conditions and its harvest is manual.

Agustín Lagos: the man who bet on the black truffle in Argentina
Not many years ago, Argentina did not know the black truffle, it was this man, Agustín Lagos, who decided to change everything he knew in his life to grow truffles. This very special fungus requires years of patience and he has had them. In 2008, this man created his first greenhouse of microrrhized plants with these truffles from truffles imported from Europe (because, until then, these mushrooms were not produced in Latin America). Now he has 70 hectares of production and hopes to reach 200, and he says that it is only the beginning!

This fungus does not grow anywhere
As we said before, the growth conditions of this fungus are very special. Agustín did research on which area of ​​his country could have the two essential factors for these fungi to begin to develop (climate and certain trees), so he moved and began to develop his project. Even his own dog, named Pancha, was trained to find these truffles and finally gave his first result in August 2014, almost 15 years since he planted them!

Other information
Now, his business is bearing fruit (never better said) and there are many restaurants that request this precious food (such as Chef Martín Rebaudino, Azafrán de Mendoza and restaurants in Bariloche). In addition, to notice the taste of this product it is not necessary to use the kilogram, a few grams are enough to distinguish it from others.

How much money does this market move?
We are talking about a select and gourmet product whose kilo can cost up to $4000 in New York or Paris, in Argentina, the price is $1100 per kilo. Very striking figures for producers, of course.

Historically, where does the black truffle come from?
Reference was already made to this food in the Middle Ages, but it was reserved for a few lucky ones. Throughout history it has been consumed specifically in the courts of kings.

What makes it special?
It has more than 200 aroma notes, it has an intense and sophisticated flavour that makes it the star ingredient in risottos and pastas.

The truffle market will be a market worth investing in in the coming years, although, of course, it is not a business that will give you profits right from the start, but the gourmet world is dying for black truffles, so, if you are thinking of investing in something, what better than in black truffles? You only need patience (about 10 years of patience) like Agustín Lagos, a place to start and go for it! Union Rayo